Combat sports fans around the world turned their attention to the historic Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday, November 13, as ONE Championship delivered another explosive double-feature card. Featuring a high-stakes combination of mixed martial arts, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and grappling action, the event lived up to its reputation for non-stop violence and technical mastery.
The festivities began with the highly anticipated ONE Friday Fights 178 card, which was broadcast live to a global audience for free on YouTube, capturing the vibrant atmosphere of the Mecca of modern Muay Thai. Later, the action shifted to the premium subscription-based card, The Inner Circle 38, streaming live via ONE Championship’s official platform. Together, the two events delivered a massive night of fights, highlighted by pivotal tournament bouts, crushing knockouts, and elite-level striking battles that showcased the absolute pinnacle of combat sports talent.
ONE Friday Fights 178 Delivers Thrilling Finishes and Grand Prix Action
The preliminary half of the Friday showcase, ONE Friday Fights 178, kicked off with an absolute statement in the Muay Thai division. Anar Mammadov wasted no time setting the tone for the evening, stepping into the ring against Supalek Jitmuangnon. Mammadov’s relentless pressure paid off late in the opening frame, as he uncorked a devastating punch that sent Supalek crashing to the canvas. The referee waved off the bout at 2:09 of the first round, awarding Mammadov a sensational knockout victory to open the main platform.
The momentum continued with a pair of highly technical three-round Muay Thai affairs. In the second bout of the card, Kyaw Swar Win put on a striking clinic against Sherzodi Sadullo. Utilizing his range and maintaining a high work rate over the course of all three rounds, Kyaw earned a clear and undisputed unanimous decision from the ringside judges. Shortly after, Cihan Dogu replicated that success in his matchup against Pek PorTorThor.Thongtawee, navigating the tactical clinch exchanges and clever counters of his opponent to also secure a clean sweep on the judges’ scorecards via unanimous decision.
The violence returned in full force during the fourth bout of the card. Ali Al-kinani stepped between the ropes to face Kumanngern Jitmuangnon in an explosive Muay Thai encounter. After feeling each other out through a competitive first round, Al-kinani found his timing in the second stanza. He unleashed a crippling punch that rendered Kumanngern unable to continue, bringing a definitive halt to the contest at the 1:24 mark of the second frame.
Shifting gears to mixed martial arts, the card featured a pair of closely contested promotional battles. Nattakorn Kesorn and Mathew Gesto engaged in a gritty, back-and-forth grappling and striking affair. After three rounds of hard-fought action, the judges were split, but it was Nattakorn who ultimately had his hand raised, walking away with a hard-earned split decision victory.
The arena energy surged once more as Superchamp Wutdychonburipraleasing took on Superjung Sor.Rungsak in a domestic Muay Thai clash. Superchamp demonstrated immense power and precision, targeting the midsection of his opponent with concussive blows. A series of crippling punches to the body crumpled Superjung, forcing the referee to intervene at 1:58 of the very first round, sealing an emphatic knockout win for Superchamp.
In the second mixed martial arts match of the evening, Kim Su-hyeon squared off against Takumi Fukamachi. Both athletes showcased well-rounded skill sets, blending traditional martial arts striking with tactical ground fighting. The bout proved to be razor-thin, keeping the crowd and judges on edge before the scores were tallied. Ultimately, Kim edged out Fukamachi to secure a narrow victory via split decision.
Returning to the striking realm, Nongnuk Sor.Dechapan met Giorgia Pieropan in a high-paced women’s Muay Thai contest. Nongnuk displayed superior timing and volume, dictating the center of the ring and punishing Pieropan with crisp combinations. The judges unanimously favored Nongnuk’s work rate and technical proficiency, awarding her a well-deserved unanimous decision victory.
The marquee matchup of the ONE Friday Fights 178 portion featured high-stakes tournament implications as Shimon Yoshinari locked horns with Ramadan Ondash in a ONE flyweight Muay Thai grand prix quarterfinal. The bout was a masterclass in modern Muay Thai, featuring elite speed, defensive mastery, and tactical chess-like exchanges. Both competitors fought at a blistering pace, but Yoshinari’s cleaner landing strikes and superior positional awareness throughout the bout swayed the judges. Yoshinari took home the unanimous decision victory, advancing further in the prestigious grand prix tournament.
The Inner Circle 38 Highlights Legendary Showdowns and Devastating Knockouts
Following the conclusion of the early-morning global broadcast, the action transitioned to The Inner Circle 38, featuring an equally stacked lineup of elite combatants. The highlight of the entire Friday schedule was a dream matchup between two absolute icons of the sport: Nong-O Hama and Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
Clashing in a ONE flyweight Muay Thai grand prix quarterfinal, Nong-O and Rodtang delivered a historic encounter that lived up to weeks of intense anticipation. The bout was a mesmerizing display of heart, ring IQ, and legendary toughness. Nong-O utilized his trademark technical brilliance, timing, and devastating counters to navigate the legendary forward pressure and iron chin of Rodtang. Over the course of the bout, Nong-O’s calculated aggression and accuracy proved to be the difference-maker. When the final bell sounded, the judges awarded Nong-O a hard-fought unanimous decision victory, adding another legendary chapter to his storied career and advancing him in the grand prix.
The supporting card for The Inner Circle 38 continued the night’s trend of explosive finishes. PTT Apichartfarm stepped into the ring to face Hamza Rachid in a Muay Thai bout that demonstrated the sheer destructive power often found on ONE Championship cards. PTT found an opening late in the first round, landing a thunderous punch that instantly separated Rachid from his senses. The referee immediately waved off the bout at 2:37 of the opening frame, adding another highlight-reel knockout to the event’s ledger.
In a technical three-round Muay Thai battle, Lenny Blasi and Adam Benwarwar put on a display of heart and skill. Blasi consistently found success with his fluid combinations and effective ring generalship, keeping Benwarwar on the defensive for the majority of the encounter. The judges were unanimous in their assessment, rewarding Blasi with a clear-cut unanimous decision win.
The card also featured a dramatic internal rivalry as Songpandin Chor.Kaewwiset went toe-to-toe with PetUbon Jitmuangnon. The bout was a grueling, nip-and-tuck affair where neither fighter was willing to give an inch. Trading heavy strikes in the clinch and at range, the two compatriots left everything inside the Lumpinee Stadium ring. When the scorecards were tallied, it was Songpandin who edged ahead, capturing a razor-thin split decision victory.
Concluding the night of fights, Banluelok Sitwatcharachai met Mya Lone Chaw in a final Muay Thai showcase. Banluelok wasted no time establishing dominance in the second round, catching his opponent with a flurry of precise and powerful punches. The barrage proved to be too much for Mya Lone Chaw to weather, prompting the referee to halt the contest at 1:04 of the second round. The stoppage handed Banluelok a decisive knockout victory, bringing a fittingly explosive end to a monumental Friday of martial arts action broadcast live from Bangkok.
